FI121421B - A system for controlling lifts in an elevator system - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention relates to a system for controlling elevators in an elevator system.

The invention relates generally to an elevator system, elevator control and passenger guidance in connection with an elevator system.

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Today, elevators are typically used as a group of multi-elevators, for example, in tall buildings or in buildings or ships carrying large numbers of passengers. These include passenger ships such as cruise ships. There are a variety of challenging situations in the use of lifts. 15 Typical situations are when a large number of people want to move from a particular deck / floor to a large number of different layers / decks in a short period of time. This is the case, for example, when passengers board a ship and move from the entrance deck to the cabins. On the other hand, for example, cruise ships have dinner time when a large number of people want to enter the dining room, 20 which on large ships may comprise several layers and have a capacity of several thousand people. Extra-large cruise ships have a capacity of more than 5000 people. On the other hand, it is desired to both efficiently transfer the elevator users to the destination of their choice and to make the most of the elevator capacity available. The available multi-elevator elevator groups can be spaced 25 apart, and in times of congestion there is often a risk that the capacity of the various elevator groups will be unevenly distributed and their capacity will not be maximized.

Even if it is planned that passengers will use two different lift groups, 30 passengers may, as a rule, accumulate to use only one lift group, which may cause congestion. It is difficult to reliably estimate user movements and target floors with known solutions, making it difficult to predict the utilization rate of elevators 1

On the other hand, in quieter times, it is not always possible to control the elevator group's elevators in the most efficient way, optimizing the energy required to carry passengers. This is due to e.g. because the system has typically failed to track the number of passengers waiting for an elevator on 2 floors. On the one hand, the system has not been efficient enough to guide passengers to the right lift of the lift group, and on the other hand, the system has failed to address situations where the passenger or group of passengers calling has lifted . Unnecessary stopping and going up, especially upwards, consume energy, which is, of course, the goal of a modern elevator system.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a completely novel solution which avoids the problems of the prior art. It is an object of the invention to provide a solution that effectively utilizes the elevator system to transfer a large number of passengers by minimizing call and / or Travel time. On the other hand, one objective is to effectively guide passengers to the various elevators or conveyors of the elevator system. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a solution that enables the elevator system to be operated in an energy efficient manner, at least for a small number of passengers.

Brief Description of the Invention

The invention is based on the idea of having at least one sensor in the elevator lobby on different floors in front of the elevators, which detects the number of passengers waiting for the elevator. The invention further seeks to guide passengers through the control system 25 optimally to the elevator according to the direction of travel of the passenger. Yet another objective is to provide a solution that seeks to accomplish a passenger transport transaction by optimizing energy use.

The system of the invention is essentially characterized by what is set forth in claim 1.

The system of the invention is also characterized by what is set forth in claims 2-11. 1

The solution according to the invention has several significant advantages. According to the invention, by using a sensor in the elevator group in front of the elevators, in particular a capacitive sensor, information is received about the passengers waiting for an elevator on each floor.

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Connecting in this connection information in which direction (up or down) passengers are going, elevator capacity information, and guiding passengers, provides an efficient solution for controlling the elevator system, maximizing and / or optimizing its capacity and optimizing energy and / or power required.

The method and system of the present invention effectively reduce congestion in the elevator system and shorten passenger travel times by providing guidance on the instant best route option. As passengers 10 are more (evenly distributed) distributed, the capacity of the elevator system equipment can be utilized more efficiently. The maximum capacity of the elevators can thus be reduced and the efficiency of transport systems improved.

In addition, passengers will benefit from shorter travel and waiting times, which will also reduce passengers' frustration and travel satisfaction. Another advantage of the invention is that the passenger can be guided to the appropriate transport device according to the capacity of the system, thereby further reducing the total travel time used by the passenger.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified arrangement of a solution according to the invention,

Figure 1a shows a part of the solution according to the invention in a simplified diagram,

Figure 2 is a simplified view of an apparatus applicable to the solution of the invention, 1

Fig. 3 is a schematic and simplified view of an arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the solution according to the invention in connection with an elevator group, in which the entrances of the elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D of the elevator group are adjacent to each other on the floor. In front of the elevators are arranged sensors 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 10 arranged for example on the floor or ceiling. The sensors are of a type that can indicate the number of persons in front of the elevators. A preferred type of sensor is a capacitive sensor which can be arranged below the floor surface. According to one embodiment, it can also be used under tile floors, for example ceramic tiles.

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Figure 1 also shows an arrangement for guiding passengers comprising at least a light source strip 3. The light source strip 3 in the figure comprises light source strip sections 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D leading to the proximity of the various elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D. The light source ribbon is of a type whose characteristics, such as the 20 colors it displays, can be changed in a controlled manner. At least two states can be provided for the light source strip 3 or at least a portion thereof. A dynamic mode in which the light sources 30 are turned on and off so as to produce an impression of motion. In this case, the person who, upon seeing the effect of the motion produced by the light sources on the light source strip, is guided in the direction of movement of the light source strip 3 '' movement '25. Typically, the effect of motion is achieved by controlling light sources in groups in which motion is indicated by switching on the next light source and then turning off the previous light source. The light sources are arranged / connected to a ribbon, in particular a guide strip, where they are guided as described above. Thereby, an impression of motion is obtained with the light sources, i.e., by "" passing "the light, and said movement impression is obtained at least over a portion of the light source strip 3, typically over the entire light source strip. The "moving" light of the light strip 3, in the first mode, i.e. the dynamic mode, is typically generated, for example, from groups of three light sources where one light source is turned on and the other two are turned off. Motion occurs when the next one is lit (turned on 35) and the previous one is turned off (turned off).

The light source strips 3 can be connected in series, whereby the impression of movement 5 can continue from the light source strip to the next. The speed of movement of the light can be adjusted, if desired, and its direction reversed.

The light source strip 3, or at least a portion thereof, also has another state, a static state, in which the light sources of the strip or portion of the strip show light. Typically, static added light is provided such that all light sources in at least one light source strip 3 or at least a portion of the light source strip are coupled to display light simultaneously. The light source strip can be controlled to switch between dynamic and static modes. The light source strip may also have other modes. In a preferred embodiment, the color of the light displayed by the light source can be changed. 1a, one light source strip 3 is shown. The light sources 30 may preferably be light emitting diodes, for example, LED light sources attached to the conductor strip 31, for example the conductor strip shown in F110106B.

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Light sources are typically controlled by the control system 10, whereby the control system receives signals from one or more sensors 2 connected thereto. The control system 10 is illustrated as one assembly in Figure 1a. Typically, the light source strip has its own control system that is physically or programmatically connected to the elevator system control system and / or the sensor 2 control system.

The sensor 2 is typically a planar electrode sensor. Plane electrode sensors can be used, for example, in floor structures to electrically monitor the movement and position of a person, such as a passenger, as described, for example, in WO2005 / 020171A1. Such a sensor can be used, for example, to monitor people in a room, such as the lobby, especially their movements and possibly also their vital signs. WO 2006 / 003245A1 discloses a sensor structure for detecting an electric field, wherein the sensor is web-like and comprises successive electrically conductive regions. The electrically conductive regions are typically metal and may be formed on the substrate, for example, in the form of printed layers, laminate layers, etching layers, or films. The metal is typically aluminum or copper, as disclosed in WO2008 / 068387A1. Ko. According to the publication, the sensor web can be fabricated by laminating a metal film to the release web, whereupon the electrically conductive areas and the associated film conductive conductors are cut off from the metal film. Thereafter, the protective film is laminated onto electrically conductive membrane areas and connection conductors, the release rib is removed 6 and the backing film is laminated instead of the release film. Ko. the manufacturing method can also be applied to sensor webs having two or more overlapping layers. Then, the first layer may have conductive regions and their conductors, and the second layer, for example, RF loops and their conductors.

5 The sensor web has an output connector for connecting it with a control cable to the control electronics for supplying measurement voltages and control signals. via the interface.

Fig. 2 shows a prior art 10 level transducer membrane structure with a sensor web W, which can be used to monitor capacitively detectable electrically conductive objects such as human motion and position in the room, as shown in Fig. 2. The sensor web W comprises consecutive and parallel conductive film regions 21 in two rows viewed longitudinally LD. There are also diaphragm connection conductors 22 which electrically connect conductive regions 21 in the upper row to the left outlet 23 and in the lower row to the right outlet 23. The parallel conductors 22 are straight and parallel and form a small angle with respect to the longitudinal direction LD. From these outlets, the well structure is connected to the control unit by means of an interface cable, which is used to monitor, for example, a person in the room. Naturally, the size of the well structure is dimensioned according to the area to be monitored, and the webs can, for example, be placed in parallel, e.g. The sensor has a substrate, electrically conductive regions 21 which form the sensor elements in order to be formed on the substrate, and conductors 22 to connect the sensor elements to the outlet 23. Electrically conductive regions and conductors 25 may be formed of, for example, etched copper or the like. There is a protective layer on the surface of the substrate.

The sensor 2 or sensor device may be, for example, a sensor product such as disclosed in US2008 / 0238433A1 (SENSOR PRODUCT FOR 30 ELECTRIC FIELD SENSING). The sensor product may be arranged as a level sensor and may be arranged to detect the presence or movement of persons within the monitored area. The sensor may be arranged in a hidden floor, wall or ceiling, in the structure of the surface under or on or in the surface. 1

In Figure 1, sensors or sensor areas 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D are provided in the vicinity of the entrances of the elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, typically in front of the entrances. In the embodiment of the figure, the sensors are arranged on the floor, but they can be located 7 elsewhere, for example in the ceiling or walls. The sensors utilized in the invention when located on the floor may be part of the floor surface or may be arranged below the floor surface.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a system utilizing the invention for guiding passengers in the elevator lobby of a building or ship or the like.

According to the invention, passengers can be directed to elevators by means of a light source strip 10. In addition, a particular color displayed by the light source strip may inform the elevator going in a particular direction. For example, displaying blue can mean an elevator going up and a yellow one sometimes going down. Additionally, additional indicators can be used to inform the elevator.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first passenger entering the floor presses the elevator call button 5, which may have a travel direction desired by the passenger. In this case, an indicator, such as part 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D of the light source strip 3 and / or other display means 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D positioned at the elevator, will show the caller the correct elevator. At the same time, the light source strip also tends to guide the other 20 passengers to the elevators in a similar manner. The sensor 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D arranged in front of the elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D recognizes the number of passengers and transmits information about the number of passengers to the control system. The control system aims at guiding passengers through the passenger control means to optimally distribute the various elevators in the elevator group as desired.

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Figure 3 is a schematic top view of one embodiment of a solution according to an embodiment. The elevator system comprises eight elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, which are physically divided into two groups. The first group includes elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and the second group includes elevators 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H. In front of the lifts, sensors 2A ... 2H are arranged in the elevator lobby to provide information on the number of passengers waiting for the lifts. In addition, there are stairs such as roller stairs 4A, 4B in the vicinity of the elevator groups. The stairs can also be equipped with sensors to monitor the passenger flow through the stairs. During the high capacity 35, the light source strip 3 aims to optimally guide the passengers to the elevators 1A ... 1H and the upper capacity limit aims to direct some of the passengers to use the roller stairs 4A, 4B. The staircase sensors can also be used to adjust the speed of the stairs, for example 8, or to stop the stairs if necessary, if the information from the sensors on the passenger current movements indicates this.

The sensors provide information on how many passengers are in the area monitored by the sensor 5. The area monitored by the sensor may be, for example, the waiting area of each elevator in the elevator lobby, as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3. Passengers are guided to the waiting area of a suitable lift by means of guidance, such as light source tape 3, or other information means. A sensor in the waiting area provides the control system with information about the 10 passengers waiting for each elevator. The system is adapted to guide passengers according to capacity or other desired control mode, for example in an energy-efficient manner. Criteria for guiding passengers may also include one or more indicators describing the goodness of the route, such as: occupancy rate of the route vehicle, Travel time, waiting time, total travel time, 15 walks, statistics, and personal profile. In this context, the utilization rate of a transport vehicle is defined as the proportion of the maximum capacity of the transport vehicle.

Route travel time in this context refers to the time spent by the passenger on the 20 transport vehicles. Total travel time refers to the amount of time a passenger takes from a signpost or destination call point to the end of the route. The total travel time may consist of eg. transit times, waiting times and / or traveling time on transport equipment. Some of the times can be assumed constant (for example, the transition time from the guide to the escalator) and stored in the information system memory beforehand. To assess the goodness of the different routes, the so-called. cost function, in which the selected criteria are weighted by the desired weighting factors in the so-called. to calculate the total cost. The route option with the lowest total cost will be selected as the most suitable route, which will be informed to passengers, for example, by means of signage. Cost functions per se are generally known, for example, in the elevator group allocation methods for elevators, and are not discussed in more detail herein.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the solution of the invention. In the embodiment of Figure 4, three elevator cars 1A, 1B, 1C of the elevators of the elevator system 35 are shown. The passenger capacity Ec of each elevator in the embodiment of the figure is 12 persons. Elevator controls and ropes or similar moving devices are not shown.

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The elevator system has its own control system. In the figure, four layers F1 ... F4 are shown schematically, mainly in relation to the elevator lobby. In each of the floors F1, F2, F3, F4, the elevator lobby is provided with a level sensor 2 according to an embodiment of the invention, which in the embodiment of the figure is on the floor. As previously described, sensor 2 provides an indication of the number of persons waiting for an elevator on each floor. On each floor, passengers waiting for an elevator are directed to wait for the elevator at a point corresponding to the transport direction, thereby providing information on the number of passengers waiting for the elevator according to the transportation direction. In Figure 4, passengers waiting for an elevator are marked according to whether they want upward or downward movement. Upward-looking passengers are denoted by Pu and, respectively, downward-looking passengers waiting for an elevator are denoted by Po. Figure 4 further shows the number of passengers in one situation as numerical data and also as a graph. The solution according to the invention thus provides very accurate information on the number of passengers waiting on the elevator on different floors and also on the directions in which they want to. The direction of travel is obtained, for example, when a passenger presses an invitation device in the elevator lobby which, for example, has the desired direction of travel indicated by an arrow. Thereafter, the passenger is guided, for example, according to an embodiment of the invention, by means of a light source strip or other information means to the waiting area of the optimal elevator 20. By consistently using logical color codes, such as up blue and down yellow, passengers arriving in the elevator after the first person are directed to wait for suitable elevators by means of color codes or other information devices. When the waiting areas of the elevator lobby are equipped with sensors 2, accurate information about the passengers waiting for the elevators and the desired travel directions on different floors is obtained. The elevator lobby sensors 2 also provide information on if the elevator is waiting for passengers on that floor, for whatever reason, to leave the waiting area, for example, after opting for stairs instead of the elevator. The information from the sensor 2 is then transmitted to the elevator control system, which allows the elevator to bypass the floor even if 30 call buttons on the floor have been pressed. At the same time, the invitation is removed from the system.

Thus, the system provides information on the number of passengers waiting in different directions waiting for a lift on different floors. This information can be used to control elevators in the elevator group. Elevators can be controlled by optimization. Here, for example, the transport distance 35, with the capacity of the elevator at the upper limit, can be made without stopping. On the other hand, when the number of elevator passengers is small relative to the elevator's carrying capacity, the necessary number of stops 10 may be made, or even going in the opposite direction to the passenger, seeking the most cost-effective solution to the elevator's energy needs.

5 Optimize lift acceleration and braking according to load. Controlling the elevator to stop according to the current load / capacity of the elevator and the number of waiters. In an elevator group, stopping on a certain floor and picking up passengers is performed by an elevator whose search is most economical, especially when the elevator is in use.

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On the other hand, knowing how many passengers are in the elevator and the capacity of the elevator, for example, can skip a floor that has waiting passengers far above the elevator capacity and pick up, for example, the number of passengers waiting for the elevator capacity.

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Elevators are typically equipped with weight sensors that provide information about the load in the elevator. However, the weight sensor cannot determine how full the elevator is. Therefore, the elevators 1A, 1B, 1C can also be equipped with sensors 2 'according to an embodiment of the invention. These provide information 20 about how many passengers are in the elevator. The sensors 2 'provided in the elevator also provide information as to whether the passenger has fallen, for example, so that a sensor according to an embodiment of the invention can be used, for example, as part of a security system that alarms if the person does not move.

Still further, according to an embodiment of the invention, arranging the sensor in the elevator can reduce unnecessary calls / elevator stops caused, for example, by unnecessary presses, such as persons playing in the elevator contrary to instructions. For example, if the elevator has only 1 or 2 people and has pressed the elevator car's call buttons to, for example, 4 to 15 target layers, the information may be transmitted to the control system 30, which deletes the call from the control system register. On the other hand, if the person leaving the elevator still presses the call buttons of one or more objects on the empty elevator, the sensor informs that the elevator is empty and the control system can delete the calls from the register. In practice, guidance is often given to the transport option with the most available transport capacity at the time, usually the fastest. The fastest option can also be escalators or standard stairs.

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The system of the invention monitors travel events and if it detects congestion in an elevator group (based on information provided by sensors 2 and / or, for example, the utilization rate of a particular elevator system increases and / or overall travel time), it redirects incoming passengers to another elevator group 5.

The invention thus relates to a system for controlling elevators in an elevator system, the elevator system comprising a plurality of elevators 1A ... 1H. The system comprises first sensor means 2, 2A ... 2H arranged in the waiting area of each elevator 1A ... 1H 10 on each floor F, F1, F2, F3 ... Fn, which sensor means 2, 2A ... 2FI are adapted to provide information on the presence and number of passengers waiting for a lift, at least in the said waiting area; elevator control means adapted to receive information from the sensor means 2, 2A ... 2H on the presence and number of passengers waiting for the elevator 15 and to control the movement of the elevators 1A ... 1H of the elevator system utilizing information from the sensor means 2, 2A ... 2FI.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises second sensor means 2 'arranged in each elevator and adapted to provide information on the presence and number of passengers in the elevator.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises passenger guidance means 3, 3A ... 3FI.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor means 2, 2A ... 2FI, 2 'are capacitively acting level sensors.

According to a preferred embodiment, the system further comprises means, at least in the elevator lobbies, for giving a call to the elevator system.

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According to a preferred embodiment, the system comprises guidance means 3, 3A to 3FI, adapted to guide passengers in at least the desired travel direction to the waiting areas of elevators 1A, 1B, 1C, ... 1H in the elevator lobby. 1

According to a preferred embodiment, the guidance means 3, 3A ... 3FI

comprising a light source strip 3.

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According to a preferred embodiment, the guidance means 3 comprise light sources 30, the display of which is used to indicate guidance information.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor 2, 2A ... 2H is arranged on the floor surface, the floor, under the floor covering or part of the floor structure and / or the ceiling surface, the ceiling, the ceiling covering or part of the roof structure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the light source strip 3 comprises 10 light sources 30 which are LED light sources.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor means is a plane sensor film structure having a substrate, electrically conductive regions 21 forming sensor elements to form on the substrate and conductors 22 15 to connect the sensor elements to an output 23 which is sensitively sensed by capacitive detection.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth above, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims. If necessary, the symbols which may appear in the specification together with other characteristics may also be used separately.

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Claims (10)

1. System for controlling elevators in one elevator system, which elevator system comprises several elevators (1A ... 1H), and which system comprises transducer equipment arranged to transmit information on the number of passengers waiting for the elevator and control equipment for the elevator which is arranged to control the movements of the elevators, characterized in that the first transducer equipment (2, 2A ... 2H) in the system is arranged in the waiting zone of each elevator (1A ... 1H) in each floor (F, F1, F2, F3 .. And are arranged to provide information on the presence of passengers waiting at the lift and their number in the respective waiting zone; and the elevators' control equipment in the system are arranged to receive information from the first transducer equipment (2, 2A ... 2H) about the presence of passengers waiting for the elevator and their number in each tier and control the movements of the elevators (1A ... 1H) in the elevator system using the information from the encoder equipment (2, 2A ... 2FI). The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises a second set of transducer equipment (2 ') arranged in each elevator and designed to provide information on the presence of passengers in the elevator and on their number. System according to any of claims 1-2, characterized in that the system further comprises equipment (3) for guiding the passengers. System according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the encoder equipment (2, 2 ') is a capacitively functioning level encoder. 1 2 3 A system according to any of claims λ-Λ, characterized in that the system at least in the elevator owls further comprises equipment (5) which conveys calls to the elevator system. System according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the system comprises guidance equipment (3, 3A ... 3FI) arranged to guide the passengers at least in the desired direction of travel to the lifts (1A, 1B, 1C .... 1H ) waiting zones in the elevator. System according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the guidance equipment (3, 3A ... 3FI) comprises a band (3) of light sources. System according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the guidance equipment (3, 3A ... 3H) comprises light sources (30) whose signaling conveys guidance information. 5 System according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the sensor (2, 2A ... 2H) is arranged in the floor surface, in the floor, under the floor covering or as part of the floor construction and / or in the roof surface, in the roof, above the roof covering or as part of the roof structure. 10 System according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the band (3) of light sources comprises light sources (30) constituted by LEDs. System according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the transducer equipment is a flat transducer foil equipment with a substrate, electrically conductive regions (21) which form transducer elements formed on top of the substrate and conductors (22) which connect the transducer elements to the output terminal ( 23), which sensor equipment is arranged to monitor the electrically conductive objects by means of capacitive indication. 20 25